Timing mechanism.



E. E. YAXLEY.

TIMING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILED JUNE 29, 1910.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0..WA5H1NOTON, D, c.

ERNEST E. YAXLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TIMING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

Application filed June 29, 1910. Serial N 0. 569,476.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST E. YAxLnY, citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Timing Mechanism, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to timing devices and has for one of its objectsthe provision of improved apparatus for governing alarm or othercircuits that may be cont-rolled thereby.

My invention has for another object the provision of means whereby apawl which is cooperatively related with a clock hand moving ratchetwheel may be manually withdrawn from the ratchet wheel when a clock handis to be reset.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawin showing the preferred embodiment thereof; in which Figure l is arear view of the operating mechanism of the timing device, together withan alarm circuit governed thereby; F ig. 2 is a sectional view takenthrough the axis about which the hands of the timing device move; Fig. 3is a front view of part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a fragmentary elevation on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 5 is asectional view taken through the center of the structure illustrated inFig. 4.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe different figures.

The clock mechanism shown is that which belongs to a secondary clockwhich includes an electromagnet at whose circuit is governed by a masterclock in a manner well known by those skilled in the art. This magnet isprovided with an armature b that serves to operate an actuating pawl 0that in turn operates a ratchet wheel (1 that, in this instance, isshown as being mounted on the same shaft or arbor that carries theminute hand e. A holding pawl f serves to preventreturn movement of theratchet wheel. A connection 9 extends from the pawl lever to a placeexterior to the dial it so that when it is desired to adjust theposition of the minute hand, the actuating pawl may, by pulling uponsaid connection, be

withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet wheel, thereby enabling saidratchet wheel freely to be rotated as pressure is exerted upon theminute hand to effect its adjustment.

My improved circuit governing mechanism, as preferably constructed,includes a gear wheel 2' that is indirectly driven by the ratchet wheel.(Z to complete a revolution once each twelve hours. A shaft 70 extendsthrough the dial it and carries an alarm contact setting hand Z upon thefront face of the dial and an alarm circuit terminal m, desirably in theform of a wiping spring, upon the rear of the gear wheel 7;. The shaftis is normally stationary but is movable when adjusting pressure isexerted upon the alarm contact setting hand.

The alarm or other circuit governed by the timing device may be tracedfrom the contact spring at through the contact point 0 that is coaxialwith the shaft 70, the alarm or other translating device 9, thence tothe frame of the clock which is in electrical connection with the gearwheel 2', the terminal of the circuit which is companion to the terminalat residing in a pin or projection 1* carried by the wheel 2'. Byadjusting the position of the spring m, the time at which said springmay make contact with the pin r may be determined. The contact springwipes over the contact pin, thereby having the desirable rubbingcontact. I provide an abutment s which is positioned to engage thecontact spring before said spring has opportunity to strike the contactpin, the abutment being so positioned as to bend the contact spring awayfrom the contact pin, thereby assuring quick snappy contact between thetwo terminals of the alarm circuit, which quick contact occurs when thecontact spring escapes the abutment. The pin 7" and abutment s are bothlocated to one side of the axis of rotation of the rotating wheel 2'upon which they are both mounted, the elements 7* and 8 being preferablymounted upon a support 25 rotatably mounted upon the gear wheel 2' andsecured in adjustment by a clamping nut 11-. Said Support 2' operates tobring said complemental contact 7* in position to permit engagementbetween the contacts and then serves to engage said abutment with saidstationary contact an to delay engagement between the contacts. Byrotary adjustment of the contact pin about the abutment,

the line including the pin and abutment maybe shifted, the duration ofthe closure of the alarm or other circuit may be adjusted, since theabutment arrests the contact spring and thereby determines the time atwhich circuit closure is to be effected.

lVhile I have herein shown and particularly described the preferredembodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction shown, as changes may readily be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, but,

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent the following 1. A timing device in combination with acircuit governed thereby, said circuit including a normally stationarycontact; a complemental contact which is operated by the timing deviceand brought thereby into engagement with the aforesaid contact to alterthe circuit governed by the timing device;an abutment serving to engageone of said contacts and temporarily withhold it from engagement withits companion contact; means whereby the line including the complementalcontact and abutment may be altered to adjust the duration of closure ofthe circuit and a rotating support for said complemental contact andabutment which are mounted upon said support eccentric to its axis ofrotation.

2. A timing device in combination with a circuit governed thereby, saidcircuit including a normally stationary contact spring; a complementalcontact rotated'by the timing device and brought thereby into engagementwith the aforesaid contact spring to alter the circuit governed bythetiming device; an abutment traveling with said complemental contact andserving to engage the spring contact and temporarily bend it away fromits companion contact, thereby to insure quick engagement of the springcontact and the companion contact, which engagement occurs upon theescape of the abutment from the spring contact; means whereby the lineincluding the complemental contact and abutment may be altered to adjustthe duration of closure of the circuit and a rotating support for saidcomplemental contact and abutmentwhich are mounted upon said supporteccentric to its axis of rotation.

3. A timing device in combination with a circuit governed. thereby, saidcircuit including a normally stationary contact spring; a complementalcont-act rotated by the timing device and brought thereby intoengagement with the aforesaid contact spring to alter the circuitgoverned by the timing device; an abutment traveling with saidcomplemental contact and serving to engage the spring contact andtemporarily withhold it from engagement with its companion contact;means whereby the line including the complemental contact and abutmentmay be shifted to adjust the duration of closure of the circuit and arotatin support for said complemental contact and abutment which aremounted upon said support eccentric to its axis of rotation.

4. A timing device in combination with a circuit governed thereby, saidcircuit including a terminal contact; a complemental terminal contactwhich is operated by the timing device and brought thereby intoengagement with the aforesaid contact to alter the circuit governed bythe timing device; an abutment serving to engage the first aforesaidcontact and temporarily withhold it from engagement with saidcomplemental contact; a turning support for said complemental contactand abutment which are mounted upon said support to one side of itsaxis, said support operating to bring said complemental contact inposition to permit engagement between the contacts and serving to engagesaid abutment with the first aforesaid contact to delay engagementbetween the contacts; and means whereby the line occupied by saidabutment and complemental contact is varied with respect to the saidterminal contact to adjust the duration of engagement between thecontacts.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this twenty eighth dayof June, A. D., 1910.

ERNEST E. YAXLEY. lVitnesses G. L. ORAGG, R. E. A'rHERToN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

